YA Fictional Siblings (Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Live Without ‘Em) Who Are Entirely Epic

One of my favourite things is to read books about siblings. Specifically awesome siblings. Specifically awesome siblings that are horrible to each other but would cut anyone who tried to hurt them. #TrueSiblingCulture * CAN I BE ADOPTED INTO THESE FICTIONAL FAMILIES PLEASE?

But for some completely BAFFLING reason, many of the YA books I read either have a) only children (wut madness) or b) siblings who have nothing to do with each other. Clearly the Various Authors Of The Universe didn’t get my memo to write more books with siblings. It probably got lost with my demand to add cake into every book. I’ll get the dragon secretaries onto this to FIX IT.

Until then…I HAVE A GLORIOUS LIST FOR YOU.(Because lists are life! And anyone who says differently is a sour pineapple and needs stick round me and I’ll convert them.)

I’m linking up with Broke and Bookish for their meme Top Ten Tuesday…and this week’s prompt is “Ten Books Every X Should Read” — wherein you can remove “X” and insert “HUMAN WITH SIBLINGS”…or non-human. I’m not judging. **

* I actually have 5 siblings and would probably trade most of them for a book at various intervals. Because that’s the sibling life okay??? Mostly fictional siblings seem FAR more interesting. It’s probably because they get to fight dragons and have midnight pudding escapades together.
** This is also slightly inspired by the fact it was #NationalSiblingsDay recently.

WHITE CAT: Basically this series combines my two most FAVOURITE things in the universe, a) psychotic siblings, and b) heists and crime. A magical crime family? HELLO. HECK YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Plus Cassel is an adorable dork and his brothers are sociopaths and I promise the series is hilarious, bloody, and perfect. I mean, HELLO, it has this quote:

That’s family for you. Can’t live with them; can’t murder them.

So accurate.

I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN: I’m actually not entirely sure why Jude and Noah are on this list. THEY WERE REALLY HORRIBLE TO EACH OTHER FOR 84% OF THE BOOK. But. The book does talk about how damaging sibling rivalry can be. Plus this book is just precious. And so gorgeously written. AND TRAGIC. All it’s missing, really, is cake.

A GAME OF THRONES: Um, so. This is an interesting one to put on the list considering it features siblings who burn each other’s faces off, kill each other for thrones, marry each other, and watch each other get their heads melted off/caved in/etc, etc. AHEM. But. Can we take a moment to remember that Jon Snow gave his little half-sister Arya a SWORD specifically made for her because a) he knew she wanted to learn, b) he believed she should and could learn, and c) he knew he’d probably never see her again but he wanted her safe. CAN WE TAKE A MOMENT ADKLSADKJFAS.

VANISHING GIRLS: Okay, so again, this isn’t the most healthy sister relationship of ever? I don’t want to be adopted into this family. In fact: please can they all go to group therapy FOR MABYE FOREVER???? Anyway. It’s still a thrilling book, like the BEST Lauren Oliver book I’ve ever read. (I’ve read, like, only 4, but stiiiiill.) But these sisters would kill each other and kill for each other AND ISN’T THAT DELIGHTFUL.

THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE: You know those kind of parents that coordinate their kids names? Hmmm. Hello Mikey, Mel, and Meredith. BUT THAT ASIDE: this book made me sob because it so perfectly summed up what it’s like to live with engulfing anxiety. And the way Mel and Mikey totally took care of each other when they were having a Bad Anxiety Time??? YEAH, MY HEART IS MELTED IN FEELS.

A GATHERING OF SHADOWS: Oh shush, I know I mentioned it last week. But I’m rapidly becoming a FANGIRL. #NotEvenSorry But Prince Rhy and his adopted brother, Kell, are THE BEST. They get each other into so. much. trouble and they always get each other out. (WELL. MAYBE ALWAYS. #LIES HAHAHAHAHA TEARS AND TRAUMA.) Also they are brothers. I have no words for anyone who ships them. EW. NO WORDS.

MY LIFE NEXT DOOR: How often do you read books with big families? VERY RARELY. So this book is GLORIOUS. It absolutely sums up what it’s like to live in a big family and I possibly felt great kinship to The Garretts. Anyway — there were at least a million kids in this book and it’s hysterical. (Also this book is NOT in the photo and that’s a great tragedy. But I don’t own it.)

MARA DYER: Because Mara is probably spiralling into PTSD or schizophrenia or BOTH and yet her big brother Daniel just really cares. He’s awesome. He’s kind. I WANT A BROTHER LIKE DANIEL. (Although FYI: if your sister is possibly schizophrenic or just generally deranged, maaaaaybe don’t always cover for her so her parents think she’s fine? BECAUSE DUDE. SERIOUSLY. #BadIdea #SheNeedsHelp)

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: The Lightwood siblings are probably my FAVOURITES of ever. Okay, Isabelle is my favourite and Alec is very adorable (when he’s not being a grape brained idiot about his love-life) and then their adopted brother, Jace — it’s all very SIBLINGY and I love it. Families that stay together, slay together. Ohhh — and here’s an actual gif of these siblings arguments:

THE LOST & FOUND: I literally just finished reading this and I absolutely need to EXPLODE and tell you about it’s adorableness. I mean, look at me. ME. Liking a contemporary. WHAT IS THIS LIFE. (Although to be fair it has a dose of magical realism too.) It’s basically created for anxious people who make internet friends, okay? OKAY. Also it features a brother-sister-twin-duo who really support each other. Louis has severe anxiety and Willa has no legs (they’re also half-Indian) and they’re far from perfect but they care. And they try. And why don’t I have an awesome twin, that’s the real question. Where can I order one from.

tell me your favourite fictional sibling combo!! do you like any of mine?? and recommendations of siblingy are MOST welcome. also do you have siblings?? or do you need to get adopted into an epic fictional family? (also link me to your TTTs!)

Comments

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT I CAN’T BELIEVE I CAN’T BELIEVE IT YOU MISSED THE HUNGER GAMES AND DIVERGENT

(cue the ooohing and tsking)

PRIM AND KATNISS ARE BASICALLY #SQUADGO- or rather – #SIBLINGGOALS
AND TRIS AND HER BROTHER ANSEL ELGORT OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IN THE BOOK IS CALEB OR SOMETHING ARE LIKE PRETTY CLOSE FOR 50% OF THE BOOK AND THEN HATE EACH OTHER FOR THE OTHER HALF OF THE BOOK WHICH IS ADMITTEDLY VERY GREAT.

But YEP I have to agree with the ones you’ve put. Definitely The Rest of Us Live Here!

AHHAHAHAH I DID SKIP KATNISS/PRIM ON pURPOSE ACTUALLY BECAUSE THEY’RE ALWAYS MENTIONED. 😂 Ahem. And I do love Katniss and Prim but they don’t actually have very much interactions? I mean, Prim is the POINT of the book, of course, buuuuut…for actual siblings interacting, they don’t get the chance to do much. *nods*
Tris and Caleb were a mess. 😂 😂 😂 BUT GREAT. A GREAT MESS.

Okay, but FIVE?
YOU HAVE five SIBLINGS? How even? What? FIVE? *faints* *brain cannot comprehend*

I only have 2 younger brothers but adore fictional siblings. More than that though, I have this thing about twins? TWINS.

I want a twin. I need a twin. (Don’t know what I’d do with it but need it.)

Anyway! Reading about siblings is always something I find fun too. Like in Mara Dyer. Yes! #BrotherGoals and Fangirl (I love fangirl) because TWINS and also in Harry Potter (that’s one heck of a huge family (Weasleys)) and all the others you mentioned.

And, side note: I kind of love-hate the sibling relationship in The Dead Boy and The Paper Cut because Luca is wonderful because he cares about Moxie so much but SOMETIMES I JUST HATE LUCA (then I feel bad for hating Luca and complain to my cat). Still, love their relationship!

DO YOU WANT ONE? BECAUSE I CAN GIVE THEM AWAY. (Actually I can’t because most of them are adults and have left home, phewf.)

Twins are awesome. My sister and I used to pretend we were twins despite there being 4 hears and a HUGE height difference between us. Unfortunately we grew up to not like to pretend that and we both stopped growing at the same height AND NOW PEOPLE THINK WE’RE TWINS AND THAT’S OFFENSIVE TO ME. I AM OLDER AND MATURE. AHem.

I liked the twinship at the END of Fangirl, but at the beginning, I rather wanted to strangle Wren. 😂 I felt so sad that she ditched Cath like that. omggggg. And also the Weasleys are INCREDIBLE. I love the Weasleys. FRED AND GEORGE. See? Proof twins are the best.

(*squawks wildly* I LOVE LUCA THOUGH. 😂 He just tries to be sensible. Though tbh, the entire finale is his fault and he kind of needs to be smacked and put in time out. Probably. I mean, if he’s still alive by the end of it. *cackles gleefully* AND YOU WON’T KNOW TILL NEXT WEEKEND HAHHHHHHAAAAAA.)

I don’t need to be adopted into another family, I have almost the best siblings. “Buying siblings birthday/Christmas presents that you want because you can then borrow them…” my sisters and I do this all the time. And we are like the best at the inside jokes. Any my 2yo sister gets all the pet names and it annoys her…. And it is fun. And as for food… well my sisters and I don’t fight except when it comes to lunch….. and then… well we sometimes do unless it is me who just goes and has it first and then they find out that I have already eaten it and I have to suffer the consequences… but I got to eat it.

As for books I don’t think I have read a lot with close sibling in them, I have read some but right not I can’t think of a single one…

YAYYYY for your epic siblings then!! And you clearly know what’s up if you do the buying-for-them-but-secretly-for-you. It’s the best. Omg, your lunch time sounds quite fun then? A mini Hunger Games??! 😂

Yes though, particularly one of my sisters also does the buy for me and she will actually read it first because I don’t have time….. No one kills each other over lunch….. unless of course looks could kill. then just about everyone one would be dead so much… particularly me.

I love the relationshop Jon has with Arya. I’m currently in the third Song Of Ice And Fire book and they keep thinking about each other, which I really love. (spoilers for season 5 ahead) I hated that part in season 5 of the show where Arya is at the house of Black and White and they make her throw Needle away, I actually cried.
I generally like the Lightwoods, in both the Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. They love each other so much, and Cassie wrote it so incredibly well.
Speaking about Cassie writing great siblings, I LOVE the Blackthorns in Lady Midnight. They are such a family and help each other, despite everything that happened during the Mortal War.

OMG I CRIED AT THAT PART TOO. But in the books she doesn’t throw it away?? She just hides it? So I was relieved about that. But I wish wish wish Arya had gone to the wall. ;_; *CRIIIIES*

YES! The Lightwoods are just eternally awesome with their intense support of each other. <3 And I love how Jace is basically just their adopted brother. THEY ALL WORK SO WELL TOGETHER. DEMON SLAYING SIBLING GOALS. I can't wait to read Lady Midnight!! EEEEP.

oh man, i totally feel you in regards to siblings. as the oldest of three, i used to especially get so annoyed when my parents called me by the wrong name – especially considering i look the least like my sisters? (but as we’ve gotten older, i’ve actually called my sisters by the wrong names so… i’ve learnt to forgive my parents lol.) also i’ve realised when you move away from your siblings, you tend to appreciate them more. but when we’re in the same vicinity, we argue SO MUCH?

sigh. but yeah. siblings are so important to me! some of my favourite books with siblings or sibling-type relationships would be Penryn And The End Of Days (Penryn willing to do ANYTHING for her baby sister Paige is my jam!), the Starcrossed series with the Delos cousins, yes the Lightwoods in TMI are great (I esp love the portrayal of their relationship in Shadowhunters) and – okay, this one is very reflective of Indian families – the Solanki siblings in The Zoya Factor. I’m sure there are more but I can’t think of them at the moment.

I’m like ALWAYS being called by the wrong name. And most of my siblings haved moved out of home!! It’s just 2 of us left and yet they still don’t know my name. *cries* Why didn’t they just call us all Bob or something? Problem = solved. And it’s true. Siblings are better when there’s like two oceans and nine planets between us. (Just kidding.) (EHHEHE NOT.) (OMG I AM. SIBLINGS ARE GREAT. XD)

Oh oh I can’t believe I didn’t put Angelfall on this list! I LOVE PENRYN AND HER SISTER.

to be fair, only one of my sisters is living with our parents now, and she complains that our parents sometimes STILL call her by the wrong name. lmao. i really feel for her. (HAHA YES. but no yeah, siblings are great. in small doses. xD)

Cath and Wren are an awesome duo! I’m always partial to twins, and The Lost and Found Sounds awesome. I love My Life Next Door (and The Boy Most Likely To is even more about family and it’s awesome.) I have three siblings, so I LOVE sibling books. Ellimere and Sameth in Lirael by Garth Nix are such a great duo, and I love the sisters in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

WELL. WREN IS KINDA MEAN AT THE BEGINNING 😂 But no meaner than some of these ones I have on my list hehe so YES. True. I do love Cath…and I love how that book ends with her and Wren getting their act together. <3 DUUUUUDE. Everyone must read The Lost and Found. IT IS AMAZING. *flails wildly* I'm really excited for The Boy Most Likely To *shrieks* It's basically next on my to-buy list. I STILL NEED TO READ GARTH NIX.

I have two little sisters and while they’re annoying, they also have pretty great taste in books, so I have to let them live XD My favorite siblings are probably Rhy and Kell. (Cannot ship. At all. ) They balance each other and it’s GREAT to see them interact. Thanks for checking out my book tag!

Oh oh that is an EXCELLENT reason to keep your little sisters around. :’) My sister USED to have good taste in books. She’s too busy to read now and IT BREAKS MY HEART. WAH. I still slap her in the face with books occasionally so she knows she’s missing out. And zomg Rhy and Kell are WONDERFUL. (I was really shocked to learn people shipped them. Like. No. BROTHERS. AGH.)

THAT SCENE WITH JON AND ARYA. MY POOR HEART. WHEN WILL THEY MEET AGAIN. (Still haven’t read DwD2, I JUST CAN’T BEAR THE WAIT. I need to have at least one as, like, back-up. You feel?)

Aaand I think that’s the only book on this list I’ve read?? But whilst I can’t fangirl, I can say, excellent Prince of Egypt gif (I love that film to eternity, been hungering to watch it for about seven years aka since I last watched it) and also YOUR PHOTOS. DANG.

PS I feel like all I’ve doing recently is (semi-rabidly) commenting on your blog? I have this new and amazing feeling that hasn’t been spotted for approx 2.6 years of having actual time to actually keep on top of blog reading and not come three weeks late to every post????

PROBABLY NEVER BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO JON. *cries* I’m 99% sure book 6 will just end with everything burning and being turned into zombies and then the prologue will be “ha ha the end” and we’ll all hate GRRM. I mean, hate him more than we already do. *cries* AHEM.

PRINCE OF EGYPT IS EVERYTHING THOUGH AND THE GIFS ARE PERFECTION.
I’m glad you liiiiiike my photos. *flails in happy circles*

Zommmmmg, I am appreciating your comments AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE CAKE, SO THERE’S SOMETHING. <3

I love a good sibling relationship, it’s just so good. I have 3 younger siblings and hell I know they can be annoying – but if anything happened to them I would go crazy.
The lightwoods = goals haha. Those Garretts, just they go through so much, but they are there for each other and it melts my hearts. But I think nothing beats the Weasley siblings because you know they are great.
Thanks for the post.

Siblings are always annoying at some point. 😂
YES THE LIGHTWOODS ARE EVERYTHING. And the Garretts. <3 I just want to read a zillion books about the Garretts. But omg you are so right about the Weasleys too!! No denying it!! LOVE THEM. (Also I need a twin like Fred or George.)

What a wonderful, AMAZING WONDERFUL list, Cait. I think we had the same idea, because I talked about siblings as well today (well my post is up in the afternoon, since it’s only morning here in France, anyway) ! I really LOVE books with siblings, it’s just so great, and since I have a sister, I can totally relate to some of the relationships, banter etc the characters can have. Plus, it’s so much more interesting to read about a big family, I am getting sick of alone characters, I love big families like My Life Next Door, cute sisters like Kitty from PS. I Love You, and stuff like that. I love love love love it. And you talking about The Lost & Found, just made me want to read this book right now. Thank you for that, and for this amazing, wonderful post!! 🙂

AHHH WE ARE TWINS, MARIE!! *flails* And I love that about having siblings and reading about them…there’s always something to relate to, right?!? I think that’s what makes them the most special. <3 I SO WANT MORE BOOKS LIKE MY LIFE NEXT DOOR!! *flails* It is beyond wonderful to read about ginormous families`.` Especially if they're slightly dysfunctional. 😂 #relatable

I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN!!!!
…Okay, I’m calm.
Favourite fictional siblings? You expect me to CHOOSE?!? I love fictional siblings – family and friend relationships have become much more interesting to me in my old age than romance ever was. Um…let’s see, Puck, Gabe and Finn from The Scorpio Races (obviously), and the Lynch brothers from the Raven Cycle (Maggie Stiefvater’s good at family in general), then Nico and Hazel from Heroes of Olympus, Amy and Dan from 39 Clues (let’s be honest though, that series is full of siblings), the Sand Siblings from the Naruto manga and, weirdly, Edgar and Isabella from Wuthering Heights. Admittedly, that last one probably has more to do with the fact that I adore Isabella than with Edgar. The list goes on…and on…and on…so I will stop now. 🙁
I have a little brother. We’re really close in age, so we went through the same crazes at the same time. Most of our interests are the same, so I totally get the whole buy-them-a-present-you-want-thing. We tend to buy each other things we both want to read. 😉

YES I EXPECT YOU TO CHOOSE. I mean, omg, look I had to whittle it down to 10. So you should too. *nods* And actually The Scorpio Races WAS ON MY LIST but I ran out of room. *cries* And I personally count Gansey and Ronan as brothers. <3 And basically technically ALL the kids in the Percy Jackson series are cousins or siblings right? Kiiiiinda? 😂 Omg Greek mythology does my head in. Ahem.

I have actually not read any of these books! What? *goes to look them up* I like the sibling duo in my current WIP because their twins and one was raised to be evil, one didn’t know the evil one existed, and they hate each other. So yeah, but he helped her escape from a kidnapping, and she rescued him from a mistake, so…it’s complicated. xD

I love siblings in novels -because I have one myself- so your list totally made me smile! I love Kell and Rhy! Now I’m reading your list, I kind of want to look through my read novels for books in which the main character has an older brother! I have an older brother -who I love most of the time- so I’d like to read more of those relationships! You’ve inspired me, Cait! 🙂

Jon and Arya are my favorites too! One my favorite pair (sibling pair, duhh) is Miranda x Eliot from White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi. It’s a great book btw, you should like… totally read it! Like… now!! And I have a feeling that you will like it… don’t know why I have this feeling… it’s just that… I do! Anyhow… it’s an awesome book and the siblings are… … …wonderfully creepy!

Cait, I can’t believe you forget THE WEASLEYS (or is it because you haven’t read hp?) especially the weasley twins. Those two are the ultimate sibling goals. AND THE WINCHESTERS. I mean what’s better than brothers that travel the continent with a wayward angel in tow and a king of hell in the backseat, slaying demons and basically dying?? (or maybe because this post is only for bookish siblings but whatever Cait, you can cheat on your own post!) And I think you forget Max Lightwood when you mentioned the Lightwoods siblings. But all of the siblings you mentioned, I agree about Mara and the Lightwoods! They’re just so supportive of each other, either they break the rules together or cover for the others when they do without them!

I have read HP! But I didn’t want to mention them because I feel like they’re the obvious ones?! SO YEAH. 😂 And I couldn’t put the Winchesters on because they’re not a YA book! BUT THEY ARE THE BEST BROTHERS OF THE UNIVERSE AND AFJDKSLAFD I LOVE THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING AND IF EITHER OF THEM EVER DIE PERMANENTLY I WILL NOT EXIST ANYMORE BASICALLY.)

I wasn’t gonna comment until I remembered one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SIBLING GROUPS which you didn’t mention – the Penderwicks!!! Have you ever read those books? They’re for like twelve-year-olds but I don’t care because the WRITING and the STORY is FABULOUS. I’ve never seen siblings portrayed quite as well as the siblings in those books. *heart eyed emoji* I also love Cath and Wren from Fangirl and the sisters from The Little Women Letters. Ooh and the Melendys from The Four-Story Mistake (and the rest of the series) – also written for twelve-year-olds but I don’t care. <3

I have five siblings, too (three biological and two adopted), so I get it. XD

You shooooould! They’re pretty short and *really* good. Obvs they were written for middle-graders, but the plots and morals are fantastic – not to mention that they’re HILARIOUS. Plus, anyone with siblings can totally relate. XD

Hi Cait! I love your list and your inspiration for it. Siblings are wonderful and though I didn’t grow up with mine, I had plenty of cousins to deal with. We were all girls and were constantly trying to outdo one another. I think I definitely need to add some of these books to my list, especially White Cat. I to love Prince Rhy and Kell and the relationship between Jon Snow and Arya is so freaking adorable. I really hope George R.R. Martin doesn’t do anything awful to them…(yes…I still believe we haven’t seen the last of Jon Snow). Hopefully he and Arya will see each other again one day…::fingers crossed:: Thanks so much for stopping over and checking out my TTT at The Plot Bunny

My actual siblings grew-up with my parents in Brazil, while I was the ward ( I sound like a Jane Austen character) of my grandmother. We moved to the States when I was only a little kid (hence why no siblings to grow-up with), but my aunts all had kids here, and my cousins kept me plenty busy – trying to get out of trouble or being blamed for everything. Whenever we played princesses I always had to be the Villain because I was older…I used to hate it, especially when they made me Jafar. Eventually though I realized that the villains were far more fun to play…lol. I added White Cat to my TBR…and I’m still in denial about JON…::goes cry in a corner in the fetal position:: I just want at least one Stark (preferably not Sansa…she bugs me) to be the last player standing and on the Iron Throne.

This is perfect – I have two siblings and give us jousting sticks and you’d see the most realistic reenactment of the Middle Ages ever. For example, when i was younger I (apparently) deliberately cut my sister’s hand with sisters right in that soft spot between the thumb and index finger. And my sister (‘accidentally’) elbowed out one of my brother’s teeth. Love, right?

Siblings in books are just the BEST. The bestest most sadest sibling group EVER has to be the three brothers from The Water Diviner (you have to watch the movie, have you seen it? Make sure you have tissues ready). Seeing as it’s set during/after WWI and they all go to war you get a wonderful display of that sibling rivalry come fiercely defending each other in perilous situations. I also really like Lorelai and her brother (who’s name I forget) from The Shadow Queen, the Weasley twins OF COURSE, and Georgia and Kate from Die for Me. One of my favourite sibling character arcs is Nesta from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

My sister and I used to play the Roman Colosseum for fun. -_- I DON’T KNOW, OKAY? WE WERE VICIOUS LITTLE KIDS. Dude, much love between you and your sister though. 😂 My brother threw my (baby!) sister on a bed once. Like when she was way too young for throwing….we tell her that’s why she’s so weird. 😂

I haven’t seen The Water Diviner yet! I don’t watch much movies because BOOOOKS. But I do kind of want to see that one. :’) And AHHH my copy of Shadow Queen JUST ARRIVED and I’m monstrously excited.

I lovelovelove fictional siblings (actually, fictional families in general) too! There totally needs to be more of them. (Like, brother-sister adventuring teams! Which is what I have in one of my main novel series.) One of my favorite fictional sibling sets is the Wentworth sisters in Entwined, ’cause they’re funny and yet sweet and they feel terribly real. *nods* And of course the Pevensie siblings, though they’re not YA. And the Igibies from the Wingfeather Saga. They’re all awesome. *nods*

YES. Siblings are so important in YA, but so many characters are only children, or the siblings are just never around. I love reading about good sister relationships, because I have a younger sister (only by 2 years) who I’m very close to. BIG FAMILIES GIVE ME LIFE in YA novels, so I absolutely adored My Life Next Door for this reason. I love the Lightwood Siblings too! (honestly, they both just slay me and are better than me in every way possible). I loved the sibling relationships in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda too, and how they were so supportive when they found out Simon was gay!

YES I AGREE! WE NEED MORE BIG FAMILIES IN YA!!! Either they seem to be only children or just have one sibling that doesn’t really affect the plot? Pfft. Not good enough. 😂 And omg I loved the relationships of the siblings in Simon Vs too! OF COURSE. <3

Katniss & Prim
ALLLL OF THE WEASLEYS
Faramir & Boromir (I’ve been rewatching LotR with some friends lately and I just… FEELS. SO MANY FEELS.)
Cersei & Jaime & Tyrion (they’re so messed up but from a writing POV, they’re excellent characters because their relationship is so complex and memorable)
The Stark kids (especially Sansa & Arya!!)
Luke & Leia (ahhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

AHHH LOTS OF SIBLING LOVE. 😂 And omg all the siblings in Westeros are REALLY messed up, but at least they keep life interesting?!? Katniss and Prim are AMAZING. I only didn’t just put them on the list because I was trying to talk about lesser-obvious ones but ajfdksald yes to them. And also the Weasleys. :’)

I LOVE novels with good sibling relationship. My favorite sibgling stories are definitely in Addicted series by Krista & Becca Ritchie (written by twins so of course they incomporated the greatest sibling stories in their books).
And I agree about Jon and Arya! And I need to FINALLY read Mary Dyer books. And all other on your list. Thanks for suggestions 🙂

AWK, I want to read those! I mean, sometimes I think I don’t because I’m not such an NA fan…but I see people talk about them A LOT and I’m too curious. ;D
Yessss, definitely read Mara Dyer!! Especially since there’s a spin-off series coming really soon! *SHRIEKS WITH JOY*

I DEMAND TO KNOW WHO THIS BOB IS, and does your mother know you have strange boys named Bob hiding in your room? What are Bob’s intentions? Are you and Bob dating?

I loved the Garrett family too, and most recently the Daniels family in When We Collided. But *whispers* aren’t the siblings all getting it on on Game of Thrones? I watched half of episode 1 season 1 when the show first started and they were totally going at it and you know me, I’m not into medieval porn even IF there’s a midget involved. Are the books the same as the tv series?

HAHAH I GET THAT. I’m not always a fan either. 😂 Why do you think I’m asking to be adopted into these fictional families? 😉 AHHHEM. Omg, Kelly, stop matching me up with Bob. BOB IS MY COLLECTIVE NAME FOR EVERYONE.

I did love the Daniels family a LOT although I didn’t love that book…but I’m not actually sure if I liked the family or just the food? Because, seriously, food.

(And yes, mostly Game of Thrones is NOT good to talk about siblings. 😂 THAT’S WHY I SPECIFICALLY SAID JON AND ARYA. THEY ARE OKAY. THEY ARE NORMAL PEOPLE.)

I ADORE books that have great sibling relationships, but I just don’t see them often enough. I loved I’ll Give You The Sun and even though they were upset with each other throughout most of the book, I understood it and of course, they still loved each other. What about Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda? Have you read that one? Simon has the BEST relationship with both of his sisters.

I completely agree. Sibling relationships in books are the best. And I definitely loved the relationship between Mikey, Mel, and Meredith in The Rest of Us Just Live Here. It’s probably what I loved most about that book! I love your list!!

You’re so right about books without big families. I only have 3 siblings, but still, there aren’t that many books with big families. I guess 2 or 3 kids are more common, but still the amount of small families isn’t representative in terms of maths (decides this is not making sense and doesn’t elaborate. maths people). I’ve only read 2 of the books on your list but I 110% agree with them (again, yes, I do calculus. I am clearly very good at defining percentages) And OMG I MUST read I’ll give You The Sun and Lost & Found because Twins (though I don’t have arcs so it ma take a while) The Weasley family are pretty awesome (and big) and there are pretty awesome siblings in To All The Boys and Bookishly Ever After. There’s no siblings but I LOVE the family in Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Zuzana and Karou are kinda like sisters. And siblings that ignore each other are so unrealistic WUT EVEN. Wonderful post!

Yes! I totally agree with the siblings in To All The Boys! I LOVED their sisterly relationship!
Also I’ve just finished Lady Midnight and I really enjoyed the complex Blackthorn relationships, especially between Julian and Mark. Can’t wait to see how that plays out in Lord of Shadows!!

Mostly the ones I read only have one sibling? And usually they’re not a big part of the story. SO MUCH WASTED POTENTIAL. *stamps foot* 😂 But then, again, I guess it IS hard to balance a big cast and conciseness is better than just having characters floating around not contributing to the plot, right? 😛
110% is a grand percentage. I LIKE IT.
Duuuude, EVERYONE must read The Lost & Found. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
And I have To All the Boys on reserve at my library, so I’m pretty excited about that too!! 😀 And Zuzana and Karou are totally sistery. :’)

I love my siblings with all my heart, and my sister is my absolute BESTEST friend. I get tired of seeing the siblings that hate each other in books. I will definately check out these books, because goodness knows I could use some good sibling books (and books in general).

I liked how the relationship progressed between two siblings in Blood Red Road. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it, but it’s really good. The style of writing is quite different.

Aww, your sister and your relationship sounds AMAZING. <3 (But don't look up Vanishing Girls though, hehe, more hate then love there. 😂) But the rest = YES. And I do love to see siblings who support each other too. I mean the love/hate is also great. ;D AFDKLSAD I LOVE BLOOD RED ROAD!!! *shrieks* I loooove how Saba starts to love Emmi too. <3 Omg. I nearly put that one on my list but I mentioned the series last week so I was trying to shake things up. 😂

Books with siblings in them are just adorable and it’s so great when sibling relationships are done well. IZZY, ALEC AND JACE ARE EVERYTHING. Exactly what siblings should be – they argue but they clearly care for each other so much. READ LADY MIDNIGHT, OMG THE BLACKTHORN SIBLINGS WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS HOW PERFECT (well not perfect as such, but perfectly loveable) THEY ALL ARE AS A FAMILY. 🙂

YES. EXACTLY!! It’s like this really peculiar thing where it’s arguments and love simultaneously. And it’s always complicated too?!?! I LOVE it when books capture that. *happy shrieks* And I need need to read Lady Midnight. IT’S LITERALLY GLARING AT ME FROM MY TBR AND I’LL GET TO IT SOON I SWEAR.

Game of Thrones was a good choice but also a bad one because…you know… the Lannisters. Hehehehe! I just finished White Cat and am starting Red Glove and it’s probably the coolest/weirdest set of siblings I’ve read about. Great choices and really cool topic! 🙂

My favorite sibling relationship(s) anywhere is in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before! Lara Jean, Margot, and Kitty are literally the best sisters in the history of sisters. They have had to band together through so many difficult times including the loss of their mom. Because their mom died, they rely and lean on each other instead and look to one another for advice.
Perhaps my favorite thing about the three of them together is that they still fight and have their ups and downs but in the end they are always, always there for each other! They won’t let anyone hurt their sisters! They are each other’s best friends.
I love relationships like this because too often family is absent in YA novels. I mention this in the book review that is going up on my blog later today. – family is what molds you into the person you are, which is why they are so important in teen fiction.
I love this post, Cait!

Ahhhh I’ve got that one on reserve at my library!! *flails* I’m so excited for it, but I didn’t know it was going to be a bit of a sad one so eep, I shall prepare my feels.
And too true about siblings. *nods* I think it’s the fact that they can fight/love SIMULTANEOUSLY that makes for an excellent book. :’) And I really dislike the trope that has protagonists’ be family-less because FAMILY IS GREAT and they can help on the adventure. They don’t have to be a downer. And I also like it when books promote healthy (sure they can be dysfunctional still! 😛 ) families because I think that’s a really important message to send: FAMILY IS GOOD.

YES! I have a lot of siblings, luckily I am the youngest. I have 5 siblings as well. I id love the siblings from I’ll Give You the Sun and Vanishing Girl. I also like Nathan’s siblings (except Jessica) from the Half Bad series by Sally Green.

Ohhhh YAY LEAH. We are like TWINS in our babyness in the family. (Okay, well, I have one younger sister, but still.)

And yes omg yes I love Arran so much. I CRY FOR ARRAN. I cry that he couldn’t stay and rescue Nathan. EVERYTHING ABOUT NATHAN’S LIFE SUCKS OMG. (I’m reading Half Lost right now and I have A LOT OF FEELS.)

I have not read most of these, but I DID love I’ll Give You the Sun, despite them not always being the nicest to each other. You had me laughing when you noted parents not getting your name right. I have one brother and one sister and my parents STILL call me the wrong names quite often. I even get called the dog’s name because it stars with an L like mine.

I WANT A BROTHER LIKE DANIEL TOO!!! So many sibling feels with him, I can’t even… Also, Jon and Arya are adorable! And that GIF you used… and Game of Thrones is coming back this month… SO MANY EMOTIONSSSS T_T

LET’S SIGN A PETITION TO HAVE THESE FICTIONAL FAMILIES ADOPT US, YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

omg are you going to watch the next GoT season?! I never finished the last one because I COULDN’T BEAR TO SEE MY BABY DARLING SNOW DIE. *cries* I’m not watching the next season. Because book first. So I will probably never see it, because the book will never come out. -_- (And I knoooow they’ll be different and I KNOW THERE’LL BE SPOILERS LEAKED SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING SUCKS AND I NEED CAKE. *collapses in a puddle*)

Great topic! I love siblings and think they should be in more books! If I could be adopted by any family with lots of siblings it would either be the Weasleys (love them!) or the Blackthorns from Lady Midnight. Amazing sibling dynamic!
Also, YES to Arya and Jon! And I really should start reading A Darker Shade of Magic!

AGREED. ABSOLUTELY. I actually think life in the Weasley household would be perfect. :’) And omgggg I need to read Lady Midnight! I was going to start tonight but I got distracted by Half Lost. BUT SOON. VERY SOON.
(And yes, omg ADSOM is like one of the books I will recommend most fiercely now!!)

Yes! Huntley Fitzpatrick portrays wonderful sibling relationships! And I also enjoyed the cousin-ly relationship in First & Then by Emma Mills. It realty stood out for me. And, of course, I’ll Give You The Sun, like you mentioned. Oooh, also Francesca and her little brother in Melina Marchetta’s Saving Francesca. And Wren & Cath in Fangirl.

OMG YeS TO FIRST & THEN!! I actually wanted to put that on the list too but I ran out of room. (Seriously 10 was not enough this week.) I think Foster is enormously adorable. <3 Omg, and here is where I confess that I haven't read Saving Francesca yet. I SHAME MY AUSSIE HERITAGE. GAH.

(I was super mad at Wren for 90% of Fangirl so that's why they didn't get on the list. 😂)

KATNISS AND PRIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU LEAVE THEM OFF THIS LIST????????? That being said, I ADORE the sibling relationship between Tarin and Caddy in Beautiful Broken Things. Eeep I’ve read so few of these books *TBR starts groaning*. Great post Cait!

YES OF COURSE TO THEM. 😂 I only left them (and Harry Potter) off because I thought it was a bit obvious. And Divergent. 😛 Ahemmmmm. ANYWAY. Tarin and Caddy were special. :’) I LIKED TARIN. I wished she had a bigger part in that book!

I have to admit, this list isn’t quite what I was expecting. But I like it anyway. XD

I’m a little insulted by your thoughts about only children. Ahem.

Saint Anything has great sibling dynamics. So does To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, although I’m not completely sure if you’ll like it. It’s almost sickeningly cute, haha. (I loved it.) Those are the first ones that come to mind. I really need to make a Goodreads shelf for awesome families.

PFFT WHAT DO YOU MEAN ONLy CHILD. I THOUGHT I ADOPTED YOU. #InternetSisters

I have To All the Boys on reserve at the library and I WILL read Saint Anything…eventually. I’m literally dying in books, omg. I’ve not even libraried for 3 weeks and my TBR is the biggest it’s EVER been. (Yes to the goodreads shelf. That is a marvellous idea. Then I can stalk it.)

OMG YES TO THE ACCIDENT SEASON. They are totally one of my favourite bunch. Even if there’s some dubious relationships going on amongst them. ;D 😂 (OKay but seriously that book was my favourite of last year fdjsakldas.)

Adore or hate? Eh, probably yes. 😂 I guess it’s easier to write extremes? Although it’s more realistic to be hot and cold all over the place probably…

*squeeeeeee* SIBBIE STORIES ARE THE BESTEST THINGS EVER!! Seriously, I love them bunches! Especially when the author does a good job of bringing the characters to life & making the sibbieship come to life. (i.e. plenty of sass, tough love & a happily squishy moment or two!) Being the eldest of eight, I have lots of experience with siblings & all of the glorious (and not-so-glorious) things that come along with it… So it always makes me smile when I read a story with brothers & sisters in it. <3

Also, I think more books should have large families! I mean, why don't we have more Weaslys in the bookish realm?? There is SO MUCH FUN to be had when there are several kids & a wide age-range. Maybe I should write one?? LOL! 😀

YES THEY TOTALLY ARE. And I’m loving how you said “sibbie” omg. 😂 Ohh and you’re the oldest of 8?!? THAT IS A LOT. I’m the 2nd youngest of 6 so mostly my older siblings have left home (although they keep returning for visits with like a zillion children…gah). Sibling-life is definitely full of ups and downs *nods* and that’s why I kind of like reading the dysfunctional families a lot too, heheh.

HAHA!! Well, I’m glad you liked it… XD And yes, I am indeed!! Most people say that it seems like it would be a lot of kids in one house, but to me it just feels normal?? Lol! Like, I couldn’t imagine life any other way! 🙂 Ooohh… I bet family get-togethers are fun with nieces & nephews. (I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have older siblings… But I think in the end, I’d still rather be the oldest. *shrugs*)
AND YUSSS… There are always many ups & downs, but I think that at the end of the day, the downs help us appreciate the ups that much more. <3 OHMYGOSH, I LOVE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES TOO!! Uhm… I mean, I'm not overly fond of meeting them in real life–but reading about them is the best! It think it's because it catches that shred of truth that lies beneath every family argument & all of us can relate to it. Lol! XD

YOU KNOW WHAT?? I THINK I SHALL. One of these days I will write a sibbie-story & it will be splendidly dysfunctional and full of family feels!! <3 <3 <3

I totally get the “feels normal” thing. *nods* Actually it’s weird when people ask ANY sort of question like that. Like “what does it feel like to live in Australia!” and I’m like…”Um..normal?”😂 HEY AT LEAST WHEN YOU’RE THE OLDEST YOU GET TO BE THE BOSSIEST. I am eternally bossed around. -_-
But, truthfully now….is there even TRULY such a thing as a “functional family”?? 😂
I almost always have siblings in my books! Usually it’s really bad news though, but omg, you know me: all my books are bad news.

I DO HAVE SIBLINGS. A couple of sisters and then four step-siblings. And by now, my friends are practically part of my family so we treat each other like siblings :’)

BUT I do get why siblings aren’t often in books – I’m forever cutting the occasional one out of mine because it just makes it so difficult, you know? It’s great when authors get it right, though. And yesssss The Rest of Us Just Live Here was absolutely PERFECT <3

HOW GRADE. And yes I see your sister comment on your instagram (so nicely of course) and don’t you steal her room for bookish photos? YOU ARE GREAT. I steal my sister’s books. I buy them for her for christmas/birthday and then relocate them to my room. #noshame (I’m just being NICE and CARING for them for her.)

(Omg didn’t I even tell you to cut out a sibling in the Daisy List? I’m so mean. I’m a sibling cutter. *cries*)

What about Katniss and Prim? I think in the movies, their relationship is not that well represented, but in the books, it’s totally awesome!
I have no siblings🙁 but I wish I had some. If I chose a fictional family to adopt me, it would probably be the Singers in The Selection. Speaking of, you need to read Kiera Cass’s books! She describes the food a lot, puts cake in her acknowledgements, and has big families in her books. I just KNOW that you would love the food descriptions, based on your other reviews.
I have actually not read any of the books on this list😯 but they all sound good. I missed all your posts while you were on hiatus, but I can always respect writing!

I didn’t pick them because I felt like they were obvious. 😂 BUT STILL VERY TRUE!! THEY ARE WONDERFUL. Katniss is the ultimate BEST big sister of the universe, no arguments.
I have read The Selection! Just…not…the rest. *hides* Gah, I’m meaning to!? But my TBR is threatening to crush me, basically. Eeek. I need to make room for them. 😛
(Awww, I’m so honoured you missed my posts. CAKE FOR YOU.)

Omg I kind of adore anything famiy-related in books–when represented well, of course. I only have one sibling (a younger sister) and I love seeing fictional siblings in books! It’s fabulous. Hence I love the topic you chose this week! Omg Kell and Rhy are SO AMAZING, their sibling relationship is just… <3 I love the Lightwoods too!! Such a great bond. I've been meaning to read The Rest of Us Just Live Here and My Life Next Door for SO LONG. They both sound like amazing books to read! <3 Awesome list, Cait!

SAME. I adore families and siblings, especially when it actually plays a bigger roll in the book?!? Tbh, Kell and Rhy are just the BEST and deserve all the sibling awards. Even though they’re actually REALLY BAD at keeping each other out of trouble. 😂 But they’re adorable. SO THERE’S THAT. :’)

Vanishing Girls is definitely the best Lauren Oliver book EVER and I don’t even know how she’s gonna top that. Also, I’ll Give you the Sun gave me all the chills and somehow I would also still choose Jude and Noah for this list even though they were horrible to each other.

AND THE LIGHTWOOD SIBLINGS IS EVERYTHING THAT’S RIGHT IN THIS WORLD (I never read the last three books in this series, btw. Do you recommend?)

ZOMG ISN’T IT JUST?!? *hugs it* I’m still not quite over the shock of that ending plot twist. LIKE. WUT EVEN. MY FEELS CAN’T TAKE THAT. And Jude and Noah were simply the. W.O.R.S.T and yet I still love them?!?

And yes yesssss I recommend ALL the Cassandra Clare of ever. :’) Actually the last TMI book is my favourite!!

I can definitely see why I’ll Give You the Sun is on here. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, but it felt so real and realistic. There aren’t any siblings that haven’t argued or fought at one time or another, and Jude and Noah’s relationship seemed to reflect that in a really genuine way.

I’d also like to add the Weasleys. They kind of resemble the Garrett family in terms of their dynamics, but it’s obvious they all love each other. And also Grace & Tippi from One, because their relationship was as heart-breaking as it was wonderful.

AHHH I’M GLAD, ZOE. Although I guess you’re wincing at the Lightwoods?! 😂 HEHEH JUST TEASING. IT’S OKAY. And omg I totally agree: siblings always fight. So I like it when books show that half too. *nods* AND YES THE WEASLEYS OF COURSE. Grace and Tippi (and their older sister…gah, what was her name. Dragon?) were all awesome too.

So great post as usual, but I’m slightly freaking out because you used a GIF from “The Prince of Egypt” AND the “Lizzie Bennett Diaries.” Two of the greatest and most under-appreciated things in the world. *flails* This makes me very happy.

CLAUDIA AND JAMIE FROM “FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER”. They have the usual hilarious, realistic, bickering relationship, and the contrast between persnickety, grammar nerd Claudia and poker-playing, laid-back Jamie is the best. I think that. despite their differences, they bring out the best in each other, which is awesome. 🙂

It’s been so long since those early days of GoT that I totally forgot the awesomeness of Jon Snow & Arya’s sibling relationship and how I really wanted them to meet up again but after everything that’s happened, I pretty much lost track of that :3 Great list!

One of my fave things in the Mara Dyer series was the relationships she had with her brothers. I LOVED Daniel and Joseph 🙂 Also YES to the Garrett family. I’m an only child, so getting adopted into that family would probably overwhelm me, but I’d love to pull a Tim and move into their garage apartment to be near them. And Jude and Noah 🙁 I love them, but also they make me sad. Cool list. My fave siblings are Lara Jean and her sisters from To All the Boys and the Hernandez sisters in The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler.

YES. Omg Mara’s brothers were grand. And I liked how they actually played a part in the story?! Like, they weren’t just there. EEEEP. I like it when the families are a big part of the protagonist’s life. :’)

(And I LIVE in a big family and I get overwhelmed by them. 😂 Although, to be fair, most of my older siblings have left home. Except now they just have kids so bring back twice as many people when they visit. -_-)

I LOVE the sibling relationships in My Life Next Door and The Mortal Instruments! I liked the romance in My Life Next Door, too, but the siblings were really the best part. I also love the Weasleys (ALL of them!) and Lara Jean, Margot, and Kitty from the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before duology. I’m an only child, so I live vicariously through good sibling relationships in books. Then I wish for a sibling (or two, or three) but then I remember how often I need breaks from just being around people and that me being an only child is a good idea.

This post + your Goodreads review of The Lost & Found make me want to read it ASAP. It sounds so good!

OF COURSE the Weasleys too!! And everyone is mentioning To All the Boys which makes me 938439% more excited to read it (I’m waiting for my library to finish cataloguing it! SQUEE.) Heh, there definitely ARE benefits to being an only child. *nods* Silence. Not having to be called your siblings’ names…there is an extensive list. ;D

Well look at that, the book I happen to be working on right now is actually about a brother and a sister. -high fives- I also have another story idea about a brother and a sister? Hm. I do enjoy siblings of any kind in books and such, though. I adore sweet brother/sister relationships, and sisters have such a special bond, and devoted brothers are just all kinds of adorable. <3

I dooo have siblings! A brother and two sisters. 😀 And I TOTALLY know what it's like to be called everything but your own name… I'm not sure why it's so hard to remember who I am? I've had the same name for 18 years, and I don't think I look THAT much like my sisters that we could be confused with each other? Although apparently it's not just the siblings that are a problem, because I'm pretty sure my mom called me my dog's name one time…

AHHHHH *HI FIVES* Clearly you got my memo and I shall dissuade the dragons from visiting you with fire. They shall bring cake in stead. GOOD JOB, EMILY. I almost always write about siblings too. 😂 Except everyone in my books always ends up dead #awkward Ahem.

(But omg, seriously, why IS it so hard to never remember your children’s names? I mean, I’m #5 in my family, but my 4 older siblings have left home. My parents have NO EXCUSE and yet they still can’t remember my name. And my mum definitely has uttered the dog’s name before ours…actually she mixes up my nephew and the dog A LOT.)

Aw man, so much love for this post! (and that sibling culture list you put at the top – why is that so accurate?)
AND ALSO YOUR PICTURES CONTINUE TO MAKE MY EYES TEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

– ahem –

Well, I need to pick up I’ll Give You the Sun now! I know soooo many people who loved it, but I was never really in the mood to read it. Good to know that there are awesome (maybe dysfunctional) siblings in that one. And omg Kell and Rhy are the absolute best. No joke, their scenes in ADSOM are some of my fave. (Which reminds me on how I need to pick up AGOS) ((Okay this list is killing my TBR omg)) I’m really looking forward to more of their scenes in that book! Gosh, this list of books has a bunch that I need to pick up. Absolutely wonderful discussion, Cait!

Because I KNOW HOW IT IS with siblings. 😂 AFJDSKLAD AND THANK YOU, AILA, YOU ARE SO VER NICE I SHALL SHRIEK OF HAPPINESS NOW. Ahem. And omg you neeeeed AGOS. I think it’s even better than ADSOM. If that’s even possible?!?!? Which seems insane because ADSOM is EVERYTHING. <3 But I hear you with the TBR-is-out-for-blood. Mine too. Omg. We need more hours. MORE CLONES. MORE SOMETHING. *dies*

I LOVE this topic and I also love your choices! Definitely agree with I’ll Give You the Sun, Vanishing Girls, and The Rest of Us Just Live Here! And TMI too, because those siblings were probably the only thing I liked in the whole book by the end 😉

So some that I really loved: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before sisters, the sisters in The Passion of Dolssa (probably the best part of the book for me!). Nora and her sister in Nora & Kettle, Jayden and her sisters in Forbidden, The Accident Season… those are just a few off the top of my head! But now that we’re talking about it. I’d love to see more books featuring great siblings!

I have a brother, to answer your question. He’s younger than me, and he just turned 30, which is incredibly unsettling. He and I have literally NOTHING in common, so our relationship is superficial at best. It makes me sad. But what can you do, really? (Answer: read about better siblings 😉 )

Omg, shush now Shannon, don’t you hate on my darling little Mortal Instrument babies. *huggles them* 😂 But I’m glad you liked the rest of my picks!! AHH and I want to read To All the Boys! It’s on reserve at my library but I suspect the librarians are withholding it from me to be mean, because I’ve been waiting FOREVER. *stamps foot* And also OMG NORA AND KETTLE JUST ARRIVED IN THE MAIL AND I’M FREAKING OUT WITH EXCITEMENT YES.

I think some of my favourite bookish siblings are probably the Starks from Game of Thrones and all the Weasley siblings (except Percy – I hate Percy!) in Harry Potter. I read Just Listen by Sarah Dessen years ago too, and I remember really liking the three siblings from that – they were all completely different and didn’t really get on, but they were actually really protective of each other deep down! 🙂

I need to read “My Life Next Door,” it sounds like fun!
I second every reason you love books with siblings (I have a passel of them myself). One of my favorite sibling groups ever is the Weasleys from Harry Potter. Not only do I kind of identify with their family, they’re hilarious. Also, the Boxcar Children. I loved those books when I was a kid (even though they made me want to run away and live in a boxcar . . .). The Robinsons (Swiss Family Robinson), Addie and Meryl from The Two Princesses of Bamarre, every sister group from Jessica Day George’s books, and the Baudelaire siblings from A Series of Unfortunate Events are other favorites.

However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite sibling pairs OF ALL SPACE AND TIME – Benny and Tom Imura from Rot & Ruin. They run away from (and “quiet) zombies together, have bonding experiences while almost dying, and try to keep Bushido and warrior smarts alive duiring the apocalypse. And they have plenty of brotherly arguements. And they’re Japanese (well, Benny’s half-Japanese). So much brother drama. I could go on for pages about how much I love them, but I’ve already done that a few times on my own blog!

Yesss, YES YOU DO!! Omg, if nothing else definitely read that one because it’s so sweet and perfect. :”)

A passel of siblings is my new FAVOURITE phrase. 😂

oh definitely yes to the Weasleys! (I would’ve put them on, but I felt like I wanted to highlight some different families? They’re the most obvious. 😂) I always ADORED The Swiss Family Robinson movie!! Like the super old one (Idek did they ever remake that? The old one is perfection) and all the brothers and their ups and downs. <3 OMG AND YES TO THE BAUDELAIRE'S. I had them (and Narnia) on my list but took them off because they're not technically YA. *sighs*

Omg I want to read Rot And Ruin...it's been on my Tbr for 90000 million years.

I can agree with Jon and Arya. If we were talking about father/daughter relationships–Ned and Arya would rank right up there for the same reason you stated for Jon and Arya. Ned knew Arya wanted to learn and believed she could learn and found her a trusted teacher. 🙂

Anyway…Caleb and Tris pop up in my mind. Their relationship seems to follow the ups and downs that happen between siblings in reality. You grow up together, grow apart and then find common ground as you age.

YES! The only smart thing Eddard did. 😂 But if he was a truly great dead, he would’ve thought about his family BEFORE GOING TO KING’S LANDING AT ALL, DANGGIT NED HOW COULD YOU. *cries* Ahem.
Caleb and Tris are definitely iconic since their relationship and siblingship basically is THE biggest point in the story. *cries some more*

This was an awesome post choice, Cait! I actually have never read any of these books, but I loved the Prince of Egypt gif you used! And, yes, I have 7 siblings:D I love them all, although we quarrel about 89% of the day XD. I really can’t think of sibling favorites from books right now for some reason… I probably will right after I post the comment;)

DON’T EVEN MENTION KELL AND RHY TO ME OR I WILL START CRYING BECAUSE MY BFF HAS MY COPIES OF THE BOOKS AND WHAT DO I DO NOW?!
Okay also I MUST read the Lost & Found and The Rest of Us Just Live Here. AND basically everything else on your list.
I LOVE a good depiction of siblings in novels though <3
Thanks for sharing, Cait! So happy to have you back 🙂

TRACK DOWN YOUR BFF AND STEAL YOUR BOOKS BACK? THAT IS PROBABLY THE ONLY OPTION HERE. THEN NEVER LEND YOUR BABIES AGAIN. BECAUSE OMG KELL AND RHY THOUGHHHHHHHHH. Ahem.
And dude, YES. Read The Lost and Found so so much. It’s not quite out yet (I think it’s out in July?! Or June. Omg I have no idea.) BUT IT IS BEYOND BRILLIANT. I EXPLODE WITH LOVE FOR IT.
(Ahhhh yay, it’s nice to be back! I MISSED BLOGGING.)

Just thinking about this topic makes me realize how many only children there are in YA! Yikes. The only books that come to mind at the moment are I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (an interesting sister dynamic there) and Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer (although it was not technically about sisters, since Emily was the sister of the girl Charlotte switched places with… but it was still awfully sibling-ish). Oh, and Sarah Miller’s The Lost Crown is a good one, too (it’s about the Romanovs, so, obviously… sisters!).

I KNOW RIGHT?!?! It’s insane! But most of the time they ARE only children! I know it’s easier to write a small amount of characters and often times writers get told to cut the excess, but it is saaaaad, because big-families are really underrepresented in YA. (At least in the recent ones anyway.)
I still need to read I Capture the Castle. I’ve kind of heard about it forever?! AND I WANT TO. Just…gah. I have no excuses. 😂
Omg did you say Romanovs?! *dashes for goodreads*

I loved the relationship between Mara and her siblings! I loved her brother and her family in general. I also found the girls from Vanishing Girls really interesting, but yes I agree, not the healthiest relationship. Awesome post! 🙂

There’s some great sibling relationships and conflicts in the Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight. The female lead character has five brothers and one’s her twin.
Risking their lives to save one another, the little arguments, the thrill of your brother fulfilling his dream to fly a dragon and being wonderful with it. and the pain of siblings who follow the opposite things, extended all the way into the heartbreaking situation of being of either side of a deadly conflict which could even defeat the love you share.
And then there ‘s a prince and princess who absolutely hate each other.
It’s a mixture of fun and heart-wrenching.
I have four brothers myself, two older, two younger and all amazing.

I was super lonely as a small child because my half sister (whom I adore) wasn’t born until I was 16 and we have more of a mother/daughter type relationship than a sibling relationship. I had three coiusins that lived downstairs in the same house, but they were all 10+ years older. In fact all the kids in the neighborhood were older, so I had no playmates until I was 10 *dabs tears* and we moved next door to a family of five BOYS! I always wished to be part of a large family. I wanted to adopt tons of children, but that didn’t work out and Sebastian is glad because he loves being an only child. Can you believe that? I would add Fred and George Weasley, and The Murry siblings from A Wrinkle In Time. 🙂

Oh wow, that is a huge age gap! That’s the age gap of my oldest sister and my youngest, I think. Omg I know I should know but ahhhhh, I have no brain. NO BRAIN I TELL YOU. Ahem. But poor sad you having a lonely childhood. :'( My youngest sister is only 4 years younger than me so we grew up SUPER close. My brother is 2 years older, but eh, boys smell. 😂 (I guess more attention for only children?! hehehh. Ahem.)

The Garrett siblings were my favourite part of My Life Next Door. George in particular was da bomb for me.

I haven’t really given much thought to sibling relationships, but now I’m going to be paying more attention to it!! I know there is a series by a friend of mine, first book Gathering Water (by Regan Claire), in which my absolute favourite relationship is the one between the heroine and her new to her cousin Cash (she just discovers she has a family in the beginning of the book). Their relationship makes me just laugh out loud, I love it.

Bookish siblings = yay! I actually have a handful of siblings and we’re awesome so. 😉 BUT STILL I love it in fiction because yes! Oh, and this means you totally need to read some of Diana Wynne Jones’ books, because lots of them have awesome siblings and/or families WHO ARE ALL MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE STORY TOGETHER OH MY GOODNESS. She’s so good at writing families and siblings and they fight but love each other and argue and are hilarious and it’s glorious. 😀 ESPECIALLY her book “Archer’s Goon”. It’s like AAALL about siblings and family and they’re all crazy and it’s awesome. <3 (Also YES TO WHITE CAT AND CASSEL!!!)

OKAY I SHALL LOOK UP THIS DIANA WYNNE PERSON IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE SIBLINGS = GOOD BOOKS. IT’S LIKE AN INFALLIBLE FACT. 😂 And the love/hate/fight/defend is like what it IS to be a sibling, so I love it when books capture that. Relatability just sooooared into the 100%. 😂

I forgot about Cassel’s brothers!! Love that series. But I don’t have brothers so a little hard to relate. I’m drawn to books about sisters, because that’s what I know. I like Little Women-type sisters, who love each other but fight like crazy… Except I’m still in denial about that Amy-Jo-Laurie thing.

Ahhh yes! Little Women! Like I know of it so well I feel like I’ve read it?! But I’ve never read it. 😂 #bookwormShame I only have one brother, but I love books about sisters SO SO MUCH and actually think they’re less common then brotherly books?! Which is weird come to think of it…

I can’t imagine what it would be like to have 5 siblings, Cait! But I do love books with strong family presents and I like to watch siblings dynamics. What a lovely quote you choose from White Cat. Hehehe.

Most of mine have moved out of home…although they keep coming back to visit with a bazillion children. -_- So it’s MORE chaotic than ever. ahem. BUT I’M GLAD YOU LIKED THE WHITE CAT QUOTE. 😂 So nice, so kind that family. :’)

Awkward that I’ve only read I’ll Give You The Sun & TROUJLH… However, I did enjoy both (thought TROUJLH not as much as I hoped)! I’m actually quite surprised you didn’t mention The Weasleys! They are my favorite siblings, especially Fred and George. I have 4 siblings, too, so I totally get what you mean. It’s quite rare that we get a “functional”/ “standard” family, so it’s great that you put together a list of books that have SOME functionality.

Awww, I’m sad The REstu of Us Just Live Here was disappointing for you. *Wails* But haha, I didn’t want to mention The Hunger Games or Harry Potter because they’re kind of the ones we ALWAYS think about right?!?! 😂 (Does a “functional family” even exist?! OMG. XD)

You are somewhat prophetic young Cait, as soon as I opened the tab to read this discussion – I got a call from my mum announcing that my brother is moving to my city next week :D! I am ecstatic?!
But yes, omg, I love Kell and Rhy. I didn’t really understand the appeal of Rhy with ADSOM alone but omg, now I want to hug them all after reading AGOS. Their new bond through Kell’s magic is just too bittersweet. Plus, how will it all resolve in Book 3? I must know NOW.

HONESTLY can I just say I loove the sibling relationship in the Dead Boy and the Papercut?? (which I am suuper behind on because UGH life). But also KELL AND RHY. SIBLING GOALS RIGHT THERE. I also have some fairly cool siblings myself, who (for some STRANGE REASON) don’t bake me cake while I’m reading and call it degrading when I use them as bookmarks. (i have no idea why, honestly)

HONESTLY CAN I JUST SHRIEK RIGHT NOW?!?! JFADKSLADFJ YOU’VE MADE MY DAY. *sobs happily* Clearly you can see I’m a hug fan of writing siblings too, eeeep. I think all my books have siblings?! Usually psychotic ones though. Luca and Moxie, deranged though they be, are the more “normal” ones. Ahem.
ANYWAY.
KELL AND RHY = THE BEST. I WANT BROTHERS LIKE THAT.
I’m not really sure about these siblings of yours though….like what is the point of them IF THEY DON’T BAKE YOU CAKE?!?!? (Tbh, mine don’t bake me cake either. I think we should send them to How To Be A Good Sibling training camp or something??)

My favorite pair of siblings is Fili and Kili from The Hobbit. They were more minor characters in the book, but their relationship is expanded upon in the movies. Fili is always protecting Kili and looking out for him. Naturally they both died. I also love the Lightwood siblings XD OH OH AND FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY. And Prim and Katniss. But definitely *NOT* Tris and Caleb.

I actually never read the book gahhh, FORGIVE ME?!?! I’M LIKE A HORRIBLE BOOKWORM. And of course the grand siblings always die. (I don’t knoooow though… I do still like Tris and Caleb. 😂 I think Caleb had a sociopath disorder though? But I still love Allegiant. 😂)

I’m so glad you’ve listed a few books with sibling relationships, because I feel like they’re often brushed over. Some of my favourite ones with sibling relationships are The Protected by Claire Zorn, with sibling rivalry that felt really real, Also The Sky So Heavy because of the brother protecting his little brother, and of course The Hunger Games because of Katniss and Primrose. Great list Cait!

Hi, Cait! *waves* I’m new(ish) around here- at least new to actually commenting and letting my presence be known lol but I LOVE your blog!! I don’t have any siblings 🙁 Also, I haven’t read any of the books on your list, but some of my absolutely favorite favorite favorite side characters are the younger siblings. Kitty from To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sweetie from The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B, I’m talking to y’all. They are just so adorable!! They make the book!! 😀

HELLO KAYLA!! *waves wildly* And omg welcome and thanks for commenting and HERE IS GREETING CAKE!! And omg I absolutely adore The Unlikely Hero!! <3 Those brothers are too adorable for words *shrieks* And I have To All the Boys on reserve at the library which is endlessly exciting!! 😀

Ahhh, I need to read these books! I love sibling relationships!
It seems like the plots of most of the novels I dream up revolve around brothers. Maybe it’s because I have five brothers of my own… My favorite sibling relationship I have read about—0.0 I actually can’t think of any. What is this madness!? Also, what’s TTT?

I’ve never read any of these books, but they sound like they feature some awesome siblings! I might have to read some of them.

I do like Katniss and Prim (of course). Also, One by Leigh Ann Kopans has an interesting sibling relationship too. Mer has two younger brothers who are twins. They’re very sibling-ish and have their littler bickers but would give the world to save each other. Plus, it’s so adorable how one of her little brothers gets all protective of Mer when there are other boys around. XD

YES YOU MIGHT NEED TO YES. And omg I adore Katniss and Prim. <3 Naturally. I just didn't add them on because I thought they were the most obvious choice. 😂 And I've always wanted to read One...but no idea why I haven't?!? *puts it on to-do list*

NFKSOCHIEISJXJS ALL THE SIBLINGS BOOKS!!!!!! They really are he best… Have you read The Secrets We Keep?
I just have the one brother… Honestly, I’ve always wanted a sister, especially since he’s enough older than me that we hardly ever see each other…. But he isn’t too bad. 😉
Cait. YOU ARE FATTENING TO MY TBR.

Ooh, no I haven’t even heard of that one! I SHALL LOOK IT UP IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE FJDSALKFD TO SIBLINGS BOOKS. Sisters are way better than brothers, though, trust me. 😂 I used to wish my older brother was a sister ahmmmm. (SHHH DON’T TELL ON ME.) 😂
Your TBR is most welcome. :’)

omg I love the vanishing girls PB. I wish I had it. I still need to finish the mortal instruments series. I read the first 3 books, I believe. but I really LOVE isabelle. she’s so badass. haha @ the gif for vanishing girls. so true. you so need to check out before I fall if you haven’t. sam & her younger sister, izzy, have such an adorable sister relationship. heart melting extremities. </3 AND I STILL NEED TO READ MARA DYER GAH

Aaaaaaah I love The Mortal Instruments!!! I’ve ordered the whole series 😂👍🏽
I think Izzy and Alec have a really admirable relationship and k love the sarcasm and humour between the characters! 💕
Lailahttp://www.lailabee.blogspot.co.uk

Ah, I LOVE the sibling relationships in I’ll Give You the Sun, the Mara Dyer books, The Mortal Instruments, AND The Rest of Us Just Live Here. Which are the ones I’ve read off this list of yours.

I don’t necessarily LOOK for siblings and then analyse their relationships in the books I read, but when I DO come across a great sibling relationship, I am always super appreciative of it. Even more so when it’s not perfect, and the siblings fight and stuff. Because it’s realistic! I don’t think anyone has a sibling they don’t fight, haha.

I’d love to see more books where the book is written from two (or more) points of view – one for each sibling. That is one of the things I loved MOST about I’ll Give You the Sun, because we were able to get to know them as separate people AND siblings. Twas great.

I’m definitely sure ALL siblings fight. 😂 It would be super weird not to, right?! Ahhhhem. But eeep! I really get excited when I find books about siblings, especially when the plot heavily focuses on them! IT IS JUST GLORIOUS SUNSHINE AND CAKE FOR ME. And omg I completely agree that books written by two siblings would be so amazing. It’s great to see the other sibling’s POV of their brother/sister/twin too…like it makes the character more complex. :’)

Weeeell, I’m going to take a second to proclaim a shameless plug: The two main characters of my WIP (Emergence) are siblings. They are a brother and sister who bicker and compete and also would die for each other.

This sounds so much like my WIP! My main characters are brother and sister twins whose relationship is a lot like that. And the title used to be Emergence (but I decided that wasn’t right, and there is no title now . . .). Just thought I’d note that strange coincidence.

Hi, Cait!
I must admit, I have a soft spot for siblings in books, mostly because I’m writing a book about twins searching for their family. So, naturally, my own book siblings are my favorite. 🙂 (And it’s a fantasy, so they are telepaths with each other, which I think is pretty epic.) As far as books written by people other than me . . . I must say, I love the Weasleys. All of them, but particularly Fred and George. They’re so funny. 🙂 I do have one brother, which is good, because not only is he great, but I have experience from which to write. Great post!

Eeeep, books about twins are THE BEST!! *flails happily* And yes, I have several book-siblings in my books that I just adore. (Although I honestly think all my books have siblings in them??? Or else sibling-like relationships between friends because I love it so much. 😂) TELEPATHS ARE SO EPIC. Honestly your book sounds amazing.

I love the Lightwood siblings! The show made me love them even more; they did their relationship so much justice and made it even better (probably because we see a lot more of Izzy and Alec than we did in the first book). I also really love the Weasleys, specifically Fred and George. Oh and Percy and Tyson are ADORABLE.